As eighth graders prepare for the next step in their academic career, they explore the question, "How can I change the world?" From writing a novel to performing a play to tackling Shakespeare, eighth graders push their own limits. To view 8th grade teaching materials, please browse my Dropbox folder.
Purpose: To look at society critically through a dystopian lens, and analyze how people can change the world for the better.
Veronica Roth's Divergent, which we read in combination with S.E. Hinton's classic The Outsiders, prompts students to examine divisions in society and how very different settings and writing styles can produce books with similar themes. At the close of the unit, students work in groups as the prosecution and defense during murder trials for Tris Prior, the protagonist of Divergent, and Johnny Cade of The Outsiders, and are judged on their persuasive performance by a jury of their "peers" (a sixth grade audience).
Unit Dates: August-September
Literary Terms: theme, thesis, characterization, plot elements, mood
Formative Assessments: Chapter quizzes, journals, summer reading packet
Summative Assessment: "Tris On Trial" presentation
Veronica Roth's Divergent, which we read in combination with S.E. Hinton's classic The Outsiders, prompts students to examine divisions in society and how very different settings and writing styles can produce books with similar themes. At the close of the unit, students work in groups as the prosecution and defense during murder trials for Tris Prior, the protagonist of Divergent, and Johnny Cade of The Outsiders, and are judged on their persuasive performance by a jury of their "peers" (a sixth grade audience).
Unit Dates: August-September
Literary Terms: theme, thesis, characterization, plot elements, mood
Formative Assessments: Chapter quizzes, journals, summer reading packet
Summative Assessment: "Tris On Trial" presentation
Purpose: To learn about a situation of mass evil in history and understand how humanity persists in spite of it.
In this first part of a two-part unit on Holocaust literature, students read the play version of The Diary of Anne Frank and gain an introduction to the emotional and human toll of the Holocaust.
Unit Dates: September-October
Literary terms: stage direction, characterization, symbolism, foreshadowing, annotation
Formative Assessments: Act quizzes, journals, pre-reading nonfiction background work
Summative Assessment: Essay exam
In this first part of a two-part unit on Holocaust literature, students read the play version of The Diary of Anne Frank and gain an introduction to the emotional and human toll of the Holocaust.
Unit Dates: September-October
Literary terms: stage direction, characterization, symbolism, foreshadowing, annotation
Formative Assessments: Act quizzes, journals, pre-reading nonfiction background work
Summative Assessment: Essay exam
Purpose: To plan and execute a major project over a long time period, building writing skills, perseverance and time management
Every year, tens of thousands of adults and youth participate in "National Novel Writing Month," with the goal of producing a complete rough draft of a novel between November 1st and November 30th. During this month, eighth graders outline, prepare and draft their novels. Editing and eventual possible publication through CreateSpace will continue thorughout the year.
Unit Dates: October-November
Literary Terms: plot, objective, obstacle, tactics, inciting incident, exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, genre, dialogue
Formative Assessment: Weekly novel check-ins
Summative Assessment: Final novel
Every year, tens of thousands of adults and youth participate in "National Novel Writing Month," with the goal of producing a complete rough draft of a novel between November 1st and November 30th. During this month, eighth graders outline, prepare and draft their novels. Editing and eventual possible publication through CreateSpace will continue thorughout the year.
Unit Dates: October-November
Literary Terms: plot, objective, obstacle, tactics, inciting incident, exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, genre, dialogue
Formative Assessment: Weekly novel check-ins
Summative Assessment: Final novel
High School Placement Test Planning & Essay Contest
While working on their novels, 8th graders also participate in targeted HSPT test preparation, working through sample tests and vocabulary work at Quizlet.
Every student also prepared and submitted an essay to the Catholic Business Network Essay Scholarship Contest, working through a careful brainstorming and drafting process.
While working on their novels, 8th graders also participate in targeted HSPT test preparation, working through sample tests and vocabulary work at Quizlet.
Every student also prepared and submitted an essay to the Catholic Business Network Essay Scholarship Contest, working through a careful brainstorming and drafting process.
Purpose: To see how thoughtful stories can persist across time and space.
In an intensive short-story unit, students explore Guy De Maupassant's "The Necklace," W.W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw," Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog," focusing on author choices that make the texts effectively humorous, suspenseful, frightening or ironic.
Literary Terms: irony, suspense, foreshadowing, cliffhanger, mood, tone, dialect, dramatic irony, genre
Formative Assessment: Comprehension questions
Summative Assessment: Test
In an intensive short-story unit, students explore Guy De Maupassant's "The Necklace," W.W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw," Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog," focusing on author choices that make the texts effectively humorous, suspenseful, frightening or ironic.
Literary Terms: irony, suspense, foreshadowing, cliffhanger, mood, tone, dialect, dramatic irony, genre
Formative Assessment: Comprehension questions
Summative Assessment: Test
Purpose: To examine own faith in the context of memoir
Wiesel's memoir of surviving Auschwitz while struggling with his Jewish faith shows the conflict between humanity and evil. It is also students' introduction to detailed, focused annotation.
Unit Dates: January-February
Literary Terms: foreshadowing, theme, counterargument
Formative Assessment: Chapter quizzes, persuasive writing
Summative Assessment: Dual-perspective Essay exam
Wiesel's memoir of surviving Auschwitz while struggling with his Jewish faith shows the conflict between humanity and evil. It is also students' introduction to detailed, focused annotation.
Unit Dates: January-February
Literary Terms: foreshadowing, theme, counterargument
Formative Assessment: Chapter quizzes, persuasive writing
Summative Assessment: Dual-perspective Essay exam
Purpose: To create a performance to give back to the school
Unit Dates: February-March; performance April 4th, 2015
As part of a cumulative 8th grade project, students will prepare sets, costumes, and music and perform a one-act play of Alice In Wonderland.
Unit Dates: February-March; performance April 4th, 2015
As part of a cumulative 8th grade project, students will prepare sets, costumes, and music and perform a one-act play of Alice In Wonderland.
Grammar & Vocabulary
Unit Date: Throughout Year
Texts: Vocabulary For Success, Grammar For Writing
Formative Assessments: Workbook pages, vocabulary short stories, sentence diagramming & exit slips for grammar
Summative Assessments: Written usage quizzes, Grammar Quizzes, Vocabulary FInal Exam
Unit Date: Throughout Year
Texts: Vocabulary For Success, Grammar For Writing
Formative Assessments: Workbook pages, vocabulary short stories, sentence diagramming & exit slips for grammar
Summative Assessments: Written usage quizzes, Grammar Quizzes, Vocabulary FInal Exam